Successful self-management of diabetes means learning some new vocabulary
Foot ulcers. Cuts or other wounds on the feet. In people with diabetes, foot ulcers may not heal, and may lead to serious infection, possibly leading to amputation.
Gestational diabetes. A type of diabetes triggered by pregnancy. Hormones released during pregnancy can raise the mother's blood glucose levels. She can lower levels with diet and exercise, or she may need to inject insulin. Gestational diabetes usually clears up after giving birth, but women who have had it are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Glucagon. A hormone produced by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels. An injectable form can be prescribed for treating severe cases of hypoglycemia.
Glucose. The form of sugar that fuels the body. Produced by digesting foods, it's carried by the blood to the cells. The amount of glucose in the blood is known as the blood glucose level.
Glycosylated hemoglobin. Hemoglobin molecules with glucose attached. Hemoglobin is a key molecule in red blood cells. No matter what a person's blood glucose level, a small proportion of hemoglobin molecules pick up glucose and become glycosylated.
In people without diabetes, about 5% of hemoglobin is glycosylated. But as blood glucose levels rise, so does glycosylated hemoglobin. In people with poorly controlled diabetes, it can rise as high as 13%. A simple blood test, called the HbA1c test, reveals glycosylated hemoglobin level. It provides a snapshot of blood-glucose control during the previous two to three months.
HbA1c. See Glycosylated hemoglobin.
Hyperglycemia. High (hyper) blood glucose (glycemia), a level higher than 140 mg/dL. Acute symptoms include frequent urination, increased thirst, and weight loss. If left untreated, hyperglycemia produces diabetes complications: cardiovascular disease, eye disease (retinopathy), kidney disease (nephropathy), and nerve damage (neuropathy).
Hypoglycemia. Low (hypo) blood glucose (glycemia), a level lower than 70 mg/dL. Symptoms include moodiness, numbness in the arms and hands, confusion and shakiness, or dizziness. Untreated, hypoglycemia can cause sudden loss of consciousness.
IDDM. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 1 diabetes.
